Given that Betsy Butler has been endorsed in the 50th Assembly District by three West Hollywood City Council members, I was incredulous when I read that Butler had been endorsed by the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles, a group that has historically led efforts in Sacramento to undermine local rent control laws.
Not only did the Apartment Association oppose the incorporation of the City of West Hollywood back in 1984, it later shepherded the passage of the Costa-Hawkins bill through the California legislature in 1995 that severely weakened local rent control ordinances. Costa-Hawkins has resulted in skyrocketing rents in West Hollywood and Santa Monica and has incentivized efforts to harass and evict long term tenants. It is hard to reconcile Butler’s claim to be a progressive standard bearer when she aligns herself with the folks who would love to eliminate rent control. Butler will clearly sacrifice the interest of thousands of working class tenants to further her personal political ambitions.
The Association clearly stated that its endorsement was based upon Butler’s “balanced approach” when it came to rent control issues. But in light of the persistent erosion by the Democratic controlled State legislature of the local governments’ ability to enact pro-active rent control, it is safe to assume that by use of the word “balanced” the Association meant “pro-landlord.” Of course the endorsement is coupled with a hefty amount of campaign contributions.
Competing Interests
Butler had to seek this endorsement and her alignment with the powerful landlords lobby reflects either a complete lack of understanding by Butler of the needs of West Hollywood tenants or a cynical betrayal of renter’s rights. Either way you have to find this endorsement troubling.
Any further weakening of our local rent stabilization laws could result in the displacement of thousands of long term tenants. Our local diversity could go the way of the Red Car along Santa Monica Boulevard.
Given that Butler has been endorsed by West Hollywood Council members John Duran and Jeff Prang, who are both former Rent Stabilization Commissioners, as well as newly elected Council member, John D’Amico, you would think that Butler might have been counseled not to seek the Apartment Association endorsement. I just assumed that these Council members’ endorsements meant that Butler would have some sensitivity toward community concerns. But apparently our local elected officials have little or no influence over the Butler campaign.
Alignment with Local Concerns
In contrast Butler’s rivals are both highly committed to renter’s rights. Santa Monica Mayor Richard Bloom has a long history of commitment to tenants and the preservation of affordable housing and Torie Osborn has been a consistent advocate. Either of these progressive can be counted on to stand up for tenant’s rights if they go to Sacramento.
Butler’s touting of the Apartment Association endorsement reflects a tin ear to our local concerns that is probably a result of the fact that Butler is a South Bay politico who is a carpetbagger in the 50th Assembly District. Butler is only running on the Westside because Assembly Speaker John Perez did not believe she could be re-elected in her reconfigured South Bay Assembly district.
For Betsy Butler, rent control may seem to be something of an esoteric or philosophical issue. But to many Westside tenants, rent control is a question of protecting our homes. If Butler does not understand the essential role rent control has played in the lives of thousands of Westside tenants, she is not the right person to represent our communities in the State Assembly.
Good to see you back Steve!
That's information renters should know when choosing whom to vote for June 5th.
D'Amico actively sought the endorsement of the neighborhood surrounding Hollywood Temple Beth El and the IAJC saying that he "understood" our concerns regarding the IAJF/C's request to build a parking garage next to their Persian Party Palace (Neman and Sapper Halls). Then, after he was elected with our neighborhood's active support, and after hearing all of the testimony from our neighborhood, architects, sound engineers and attorneys representing apartment owners, why the garage should not be built and why it should not be grated a license in a residential neighborhood to 1:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, he along with John Duran and Jeffrey Prang who also support Ms. Butler, voted in favor of the IAJC's request. Not only was this a betrayal to the people who helped elect him, it was a clear indication that he and Messrs. Duran and Prang are far more concerned with the wealth that flows from the IAJF/C's coffers than responsibly representing the the people of West Hollywood. I leave it to you to evaluate of Ms. Butler, but renters in West Hollywood beware! If you lie down with dogs ...
Just last week, Assemblywoman Betsy Butler received the endorsements from: California Federation of Labor, Planned Parenthood PAC - Los Angeles and the powerful Golden State Manufactured-home Owners League!
I've followed WeHo politics carefully for the 12 years I've lived here (for the record, I am a homeowner, no tenants), and Steve Martin in particular, and the putting every political race that has any local impact under the pro-rent control prism has turned me off to this group.
With all due respect it would seem the SMRR board disagrees with you: http://santamonica.patch.com/blog_posts/blog-santa-monicans-for-renters-rights-says-butlers-endorsement-shows-doubt-and-mistrust Money quote: "This endorsement and your apparent enthusiasm for it will certainly sow doubt and mistrust for your candidacy among the renter voters of Santa Monica, West Hollywood, and West Los Angeles,"
Martin, at the time, even wrote an article in “Apartment Age,” the magazine of the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles, advocating that West Hollywood should embrace a weaker form of rent control. During his term on the West Hollywood City Council, Steve Martin was, in a sense, the landlords’ “go to guy.” Mr. Martin advocated for and supported measures to weaken rent control, kill a needed affordable housing project and fire the city’s Rent Stabilization Director. The Rent Stabilization Director had an impressive track-record of upholding tenants’ rights and was firmly committed to implementing and enforcing the city’s rent control law. Tenants couldn’t trust Martin during the Cityhood campaign, couldn’t trust him when he was on the City Council and cannot trust him today. From an Article: http://www.cesinaction.org/CESIntheNews/EvictionsOverSmokingSpecious.aspx
I’ve listened to all three & of the three I believe Bloom is the best, for us, of the bunch. My only problem with Richard Bloom (and probably the other two) is that he supports a smoking ban which I believe is a human rights issue. His yard sign is still living in the back of my car until I clear that in my mind. I’ve never voted for a Republican but, Brad Torgan is not telling people how they should live. Ari is trashing Steve Martin for being pro landlord and at the same time defending Betsy for being pro landlord. Landlords are our biggest small business. Steve Martin is advocating for rent control in this article. You bring up that Steve supported a weaker rent control law...twenty something years ago? You bring up an article in the Apartment owners association magazine a million years ago. You mention that Steve was against an affordable housing project. You fail to mention that our three...smarter, more creative, council members, who are Betsy’s supporters, voted against affordable housing at that same site because it preserved our history, created a community center and a park. Just for the record, I did not find the Apartment Owners association endorsement of Betsy troubling. I don’t agree with Steve here but, I respect and admire him. I do find your hack job on Steve troubling.
I don’t Ari...but, that’s probably because I know him well, talk to him and have read his articles in the time since Steve was on Council almost a decade ago. I’m more pro landlord than Steve is. I know too many rent control abusers...who also have a house in Palm Springs. You point to something that happened (?) during the city hood campaign. That was twenty seven years ago, Ari. Have any of your views changed since 1984? Your comments just reminded me of hit pieces meant to sway the reader by spin. John D’Amico was recently accused by Larry Gross of being against affordable housing using the same project that you used on Steve. Everybody who supported that park has been attacked as being against affordable housing at election time. I have little doubt they will be again in our next election. That Rent Stabilization Director lied about me and other tenants in my building...Thank God she’s gone.
Every time Steve runs, some nut case puts out a hit piece using Steve’s vote on the Sunset Millennium against him...when in fact the rest of council voted the same way. People grow. Situations change. Points of view change. Look at Obama and gay marriage. If you don’t agree with someone, make a case. If you attack, instead, using out of date spin, it looks silly, dirty and doesn’t work on those of us who know better. Be careful of getting some of that mud on your candidate. She’s too pretty for that.